Martellus Bennett comments on Packers release

In this Oct. 8, 2017, file photo, Green Bay Packers tight end Martellus Bennett walks off the field after a game against the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman, File)

(WLUK) -- For the first time since his release from the Packers, Martellus Bennett is speaking out on social media.

Bennett was released by the team Wednesday, citing a "failure to disclose a medical condition" and picked up by the New England Patriots Thursday.

On his Instagram account, the tight-end released the following statement Friday:

"The packers examined my shoulder on my visit March 10 and cleared it. They even gave me an xray as well. It got worse during the season, specifically against the cowboys so I asked to have it checked and we checked it. After a few days of contemplating to play with it or get surgery, I choose surgery. Now here we are....They tried to [expletive] over me. Dr. McKenzie trying to cover his own [expletive]. After trying to persuade me to play thru a major injury and me choosing to get surgery. They have access to all my medical records. My shoulder wasn't where it is now at the beginning of the season. I [expletive] it up playing for the @packers. Dr. McKenzie didn't make me feel safe and was pushing to play which I though was weird. Not that he was trying to get me to play thru it but the way he was saying things. I didn't trust him. So I got 3 other opinions from doctors who all said I need to get it fixed. So I decided to do that. And they decided to waive me with some [expletive] excuse. Failure disclose. Every week we do a body evaluation sheet in the weight and pretty much every week I circled my shoulder. I just kept playing but it got worse. During the bye week I got off anti inflammatories to clean my system and could really feel the pain. So i asked to examine it first day back in. And that's when we found out it was really [expletive] up. They knew. They panicked. Thinking that I was trying to go on IR and be on their books next year. When I mentioned that I would possibly retire. So they tried to [expletive] me before they thought I would [expletive] them. This was all about money. All about money. I get it. But don't lie homie. You knew [expletive] was up. C.R.E.A.M. I had intentions of playing all 8 games as I mentioned in the post during the bye week, but found out it was worse than I felt after getting it checked out. Now I'm like [expletive] it. I chose my health over the "team". They chose money over me."

The Packers have declined to comment on Bennett's statement Friday.

Jordy Nelson released the following statement regarding Dr. McKenzie on Twitter:

Bennett rarely practiced with the team since the bye week and did not suit up in the team's loss to the Lions Monday night.

However, he was seen suiting up at Patriots practice Friday.

In the Packers locker room, players are still trying to figure whether or not their former teammate quit on them.

"I try and stay in my lane just figure things out on my end. I haven't saw him in awhile so I just try and focus on what I need to focus on," said Packers linebacker, Nick Perry. "We just got to move past that it happened. There is no reason to go down that road; we don't have him here and we have to move forward."